Need for improving standards

Should blood banks be allowed to operate independently or brought under one umbrella for improving quality standards?

A senior pathologist from Mysuru, who has been associated with blood banks and holding camps since several years, felt that blood banks should be allowed to work under a department instead of individual operations.

Private agencies, NGOs, corporate hospitals and government hospitals run blood banks.

“There are hurdles in the operation of blood banks. We need to make available safe blood at an affordable cost to poor patients. The quality standards have to improve. Financial constraints should not come in the way of getting secure blood,” the doctor said.